Entrainment device for a roller blind and roller blind system for a vehicle roof

ABSTRACT

An entrainment device for a roller blind has a latching element and a handle. The latching element is connected with the handle and is operable by the handle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to European Application No. 06 009 100.6, which was filed on May 2, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an entrainment device for a roller blind and a roller blind system for a vehicle having a first roller blind, a second roller blind, and an entrainment device of this type.

Roller blind systems with several roller blinds are known, and are associated to a translucent opening in a vehicle roof. The translucent opening may be formed, for instance, by a stationary panorama roof or by one or several transparent covers of a sliding roof. The roller blinds can be shifted between an open position in which the roller blinds do not impede passage of light through an opening, and a closed position in which the roller blinds completely prevent an incidence of light through the opening, or at least diminish it. Depending on construction, the roller blinds may also be held in various intermediate positions between the closed and open positions.

Handles, which can be operated by vehicle occupants, are provided to shift manually operated roller blinds. With roller blind systems that include two roller blinds, i.e., one front and one rear roller blind, the handle of the rear roller blind might be arranged remote from a driver. The driver cannot grab the handle and consequently is not able to shift the rear roller blind.

It is the object of the invention to provide an entrainment device for a roller blind such that several roller blinds can be coupled with each other and to provide a roller blind system for a vehicle roof that allows several roller blinds to be coupled with each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention provides an entrainment device for a roller blind that includes a latching element and a handle. The latching element is connected with the handle and is operable by the handle. The entrainment device is, for instance, a part of a roller blind system having two roller blinds, and couples the roller blinds with each other in such a manner that a second roller blind is entrained during operation of a first roller blind. In one example, the first roller blind is a front roller blind, the handle of which can easily be operated by a driver. A second, rear roller blind can be concomitantly shifted by the driver without the latter being forced to stop in order to operate the rear roller blind from the back. The handle is able to operate the latching element such that the latching element assumes a position in which the latching element engages the rear roller blind or does not engage the rear roller blind. A resilient element may be provided, for instance, which drives the latching element into a position in which the latching element engages the roller blind. It is only for decoupling the two roller blinds that the handle has to be operated.

The invention further relates to a roller blind system for a vehicle roof that includes a first roller blind, a second roller blind, and an entrainment device of the type mentioned above. The entrainment device is able to couple the roller blinds with each other in such a manner that the second roller blind is entrained during displacement of the first roller blind. With regard to the advantages, reference is made to the above explanations.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a roller blind system according to the invention, with an entrainment device according to the invention of first and second embodiments and with first and second roller blinds: in FIG. 1 a both roller blinds are opened, and the entrainment device engages the second roller blind; in FIG. 1 b both roller blinds are closed, and the entrainment device engages the second roller blind; in FIG. 1 c both roller blinds are closed, and the entrainment device does not engage the second roller blind; and in FIG. 1 d the first roller blind is closed, and the second roller blind is opened.

FIG. 2 is a basic outline of the entrainment device of FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of an area of a latching element that is indicated at X in FIG. 2: the latching element is not in engagement with the roller blind in FIG. 3 a; and the latching element is in engagement with the roller blind in FIG. 3 b.

FIG. 4 is a basic outline of the entrainment device of FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of an area in FIG. 4 that is indicated at Y.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of a roller blind system according to the invention, with an entrainment device according to the invention of a third embodiment and with first and second roller blinds that are both open.

FIG. 7 is a basic outline of the entrainment device of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 schematically shows a roller blind system that can: expose a translucent opening of a stationary panorama window or one or more transparent covers of a sliding roof system (FIG. 1 a); or fully cover the opening (FIGS. 1 b and 1 c); or partially cover the opening (FIG. 1 d). This will work independently of the cover position. The roller blind system includes of a first, front roller blind 10 and a second, rear roller blind 12. The front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 can be shifted in two guide rails (not shown) arranged along side edges of a roof opening that extend in a longitudinal direction, and move in tandem, i.e., both the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 are closed in a direction of travel F by being withdrawn from winding bodies 20, 22 in a forward direction.

An entrainment device 14 is provided such that the rear roller blind 12 can be coupled with the front roller blind 10 so that during shifting the front roller blind 10, the rear roller blind 12 will be shifted concomitantly.

FIGS. 1 to 5 describe the entrainment device 14 in first and second embodiments, while FIGS. 6 and 7 show the entrainment device 14 in a third embodiment.

The entrainment device 14 of the first and second embodiments has a hook-like latching element 24 in each case, which can engage a hoop 18 of the rear roller blind 12. The hoop 18 is attached to a front edge of the rear roller blind 12 as seen in the direction of travel F. The latching element 24 is spring-loaded with a resilient element 26, for example, and is driven by the resilient element 26 into a position in which the latching element 24 engages the second roller blind 12.

A handle 28 (schematically shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) is provided, which is arranged on a hoop 16 of the front roller blind 10 and is a part of the entrainment device 14. The latching element 24 may be connected with the handle 28 through a rope 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3) or a linkage assembly 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

FIG. 2 shows a one-piece, pretensioned rope 30, which connects the handle 28 with the two hook-like latching elements 24. The latching elements 24 are attached at ends of the rope 30 and are driven by the resilient elements 26 such that the latching elements 24 engage in recesses 36 on the hoop 18 of the rear roller blind 12, with the recesses 36 preferably being adapted to the shape of the latching elements 24. Two deflection pulleys 34 are provided, which are engaged by the rope 30.

In the course of a swiveling motion (arrow S) of the handles 28, the pretensioned rope 30 is pulled in direction A. The hook-like latching elements 24, which are connected with the rope 30, are pulled in direction A against a force of the resilient elements 26 and moved out of the recesses 36 in the hoop 18. The coupling of the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 is then canceled, and the front roller blind 10 can be shifted independently of the rear roller blind 12 (FIGS. 1 c and 1 d).

If the handle 28 is released, the front roller blind 10 can be coupled with the rear roller blind 12 anew (FIGS. 1 a and 1 b). The resilient elements 26 press the latching elements 24 against direction A, whereby the latching elements 24 engage in the recesses 36, and the handle 28 is pulled to the initial position through the rope 30.

In order to move the latching elements 24 out of the recesses 36 and to uncouple the front roller blind 10 from rear roller blind 12, the handle 28 could also be pulled toward a vehicle interior space. Uncoupling the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 by a shifting motion of the handle 28 is also possible.

It would also be possible to provide lead-in ramps 37 (shown in lines in FIG. 7) adjacent to the recesses 36. Coupling the rear roller blind 12 to the front roller blind 10 could be performed in this case without operating the handle 28, because the resilient elements 26 drive the latching elements 24 toward the recesses 36 such that the latching elements 24 enter the recesses 36 when the latching elements 24 and the lead-in ramps 37 are suitably designed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the entrainment device 14. Here, the entrainment device 14 is shown as a linkage assembly 32 having four rods 38, 40, 42, 44. The rods 38, 40, which are directly connected with the handle 28 that exhibits pivotable or swiveling motion S, are designed as toothed racks with a respective toothed section 46. A toothed wheel 48 can mesh with the respective toothed section 46 (cf. FIG. 5) and is provided on each of the rods 42, 44. The two latching elements 24 are arranged on the ends of the rods 42, 44.

During a swiveling motion of the handle 28 (swiveling motion S), the toothed racks of the rods 38, 40 are moved in direction A. The toothed wheels 48 provided on the rods 42, 44 will rotate, whereby the hook-like latching elements 24 will be rotated so as to leave the recesses 36 on the hoop 18 (rotational motion T). A swiveling motion of the handle 28 is converted to a rotational motion T by the toothed racks and the toothed wheels 48. As soon as the latching elements 24 no longer engage in the recesses 36, the front roller blind 10 is uncoupled from the rear roller blind 12 (FIG. 1 c) and can be shifted independently from the rear roller blind 12 (FIG. 1 d).

For the purpose of coupling the two roller blinds 10, 12 (FIGS. 1 a and 1 b), it is necessary to swivel the handle 28 in the opposite direction, whereby the rods 38, 40 move against direction A and the toothed wheels 48 rotate against the rotational motion T. Through this, the latching elements 24 will be rotated and engage in the recesses 36.

Coupling the rear roller blind 12 to the front roller blind 10 could also be performed without any operation of the handles 28 with the aid of the resilient element 26 and the lead-in ramps 37 (shown in lines in FIG. 7); in this case, the lead-in ramps 37 could be provided so as to adjoin the recesses 36.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the entrainment device 14. The latching element 24 and the handle 28 are provided on the front roller blind 10. The latching element 24 has a pin-like design and can engage in a recess 36 of a coupling rod 50. The coupling rod 50 is attached to the rear roller blind 12.

Due to the lead-in ramps 37, which are provided on the coupling rods 50, the spring-loaded latching elements 24 can be pushed back against the spring force and subsequently engage in the recesses 36, whereby the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 will be coupled with each other.

In order to uncouple the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12, the handle 28 has to be swiveled (swiveling motion S). Through this process, the two latching elements 24 will be moved out of the recesses 36.

Instead of the lead-in ramps 37, the two roller blinds 10, 12 could also be coupled to each other through a swiveling motion of the handle 28.

Also, the entrainment device 14 of all embodiments could be part of a roller blind system, the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 of which perform movements in opposite directions. With such roller blinds moving in opposite directions, the winding bodies 20, 22 are arranged in a middle area of the opening; the front roller blind 10 is pulled in the direction of travel F in order to cover the opening, and the rear roller blind 12 is pulled against the direction of travel F in order to cover the opening.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

1. An entrainment device for a roller blind comprising: a latching element; and a handle, the latching element being connected with the handle and being operable by the handle.
 2. The entrainment device according to claim 1, including a resilient element that can drive the latching element into a position in which the latching element engages a roller blind.
 3. The entrainment device according to claim 1, wherein the handle is arranged on a hoop of a first roller blind.
 4. The entrainment device according to claim 1, including a rope that connects the latching element with the handle.
 5. The entrainment device according to claim 1, including a linkage assembly that includes a plurality of rods and connects the latching element with the handle.
 6. The entrainment device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of rods includes a first rod that has at least one portion that comprises a toothed wheel, and a second rod that comprises a toothed rack.
 7. A roller blind system for a vehicle roof, comprising: a first roller blind; a second roller blind; and an entrainment device comprising a latching element and a handle, the latching element being connected with the handle and being operable by the handle, wherein the entrainment device is able to couple the first and second roller blinds with each other in such a manner that the second roller blind is entrained during displacement of the first roller blind.
 8. The roller blind system according to claim 7, wherein the first roller blind comprises the entrainment device, the first roller blind being a front roller blind as seen in a direction of forward travel.
 9. The roller blind system according to claim 8, wherein the entrainment device of the first roller blind engages a hoop of the second roller blind.
 10. The roller blind system according to claim 7, including a coupling rod that is attached to the second roller blind, the latching element being able to engage the coupling rod. 